Reasons to Visit Brockenhurst – What to See and Do
Lovely Brockenhurst is one of the largest villages in the New Forest. Through the years, it’s managed to retain much of its olde worlde character and charm. Its pretty high street is lined with quaint independent shops for day to day provisions in traditional bakers, butchers and a greengrocers. Add to that some wonderful eateries, gift shops and curio shops – and a posse of traditional pubs and inns; you’ll see why it is such a popular meeting place for locals and forest folk from the National Park’s surrounding villages to meet and socialise.
Located in the heart of the New Forest National Park, Brockenhurst is a thriving village surrounded by extensive heathland and pretty woods. A weir flows through the village creating a ford at the end of the high street, known locally as The Splash which serves as a watering hole for the famous free-roaming New Forest ponies, cattle and donkeys. It’s very common to see them mooching along the high street, pausing inside shop doorways and nibbling the grass verges and hedgerows along the roads and lanes of the village. They are a most wonderfully novel sight and quirky muses for your holiday photos and New Forest Instagram stories – just don’t get too close.
Stay on one of our holiday cottages in Brockenhurst, and you won’t need to venture far for good food. Friendly inns, historic pubs, cafes and hotels are dotted in and around the village. There are also some excellent takeaways and a fabulous fish and chip shop, so you won’t find a night that you ‘need’ to cook – although the local shops stock some delicious hand-made pies and prepared meals that just need popping in the oven if you fancy a lazy night in at your cottage.
Out and about exploring the area around Brockenhurst
Brockenhurst train station has a direct line to London in 90 minutes, and it’s just 9 minutes to Bournemouth with its seven miles of award-winning golden sandy beaches. However, Brockenhurst has its own little beach, opposite the Balmer Lawn Hotel. In the summer months, a shallow stream runs along a sand and shingle beach that’s surrounded by grassy lawns and hedgerow. It’s a lovely spot to unfold a chair and stop for a picnic and a paddle.
There’s an endless supply of walking trails to explore all year round. Nearby Backwater Arboretum is home to mighty redwoods and some of the oldest Douglas fir trees in the UK along Rhinefield Ornamental Drive. Or hire a bike in the village from Cyclex. There are plenty of off-road cycle routes and tracks to choose from when you pick your bike up, and lots more from the New Forest – Forestry Commission. If you fancy another type of saddle, switch peddles for stirrups and book a morning or afternoon walk on horseback at Brockenhurst’s Ford Farm Stables. If you’re an experienced rider, you can book a lesson to learn the sport of Polo at The New Forest Polo School.
Still on the subject of sport, golfers won’t feel left out as the picturesque Brockenhurst Manor Golf Club is just outside the village. Designed by architect Harry Colt, the eighteen-hole course is also an England golf championship venue. For youngsters 6 – 17 years old, Tile Barn Activity Centre offer activity days during the school holidays where kids can book in for a day of archery, climbing, skiing and water sports.
Wine lovers should visit the award-winning Setley Ridge Vineyard who offer tours (depending on the time of year). You can buy wine in their farm shop who also do year-round wine and cheese tasting. They stock lots of local produce, artisan nibbles, fruit and vegetables and a great selection of delicious home-cooked meals.
After a day of activities, maybe you’ll fancy some downtime being pampered. Brockenhurst has some lovely spas and beauty salons including the Potting Shed and Shepard’s Hut at the well-known luxury hotel – The Pig. Also in Brockenhurst is SenSpa at Carey’s Manor hotel. Their luxury Thai spa covers a massive 22000 sq ft with a large swimming pool, experience showers, Alphasphere, hydrotherapy pool, ice room, mudroom, yoga studio and more.
The New Forest and Hampshire Country Show takes place a mile or so outside Brockenhurst in July. The large annual three-day event attracts around 95,000 visitors with plenty of things to see and do. It’s essentially an agricultural show with show jumping and livestock competitions, interactive family fun, trade stalls and exhibitions, flower show, discovery zones and a vast selection of food and drink – it’s well worth a visit, although sadly it’s cancelled in July 2020 due to Covid-19.
Take a look at our large portfolio of cottages in the New Forest here.